The Wake of the Dragon: A Steampunk Adventure

James Dudley dreams of adventure, but no amount of secret fantasy will drag him from the security of a steady job as Mr Wyatt's clerk. That is until Mr Wyatt sends him on a clandestine assignment that will take him to the opium capitol of the country and aboard ship with airship pirates. More

No sane airshipman will fly near a storm, but the cover of storm edge offers effective concealment for airship pirates who can strike quickly from above before anyone knows a ship is near. With the protection of Aide, the goddess of air travel, one airship defies the elements to seek fortune for the rag tag aerialists who make up the pirate crew.

The elements are the least of their problems when they find themselves saddled with an airsick clerk, a crewmember suspected of working for the East India Company and a love sick farm girl whose headstrong misconceptions compel her to seek adventure where no decent woman would wander unescorted.

Battling businessmen, mechanoids and villagers armed with torches and pitchforks, Captain Bonny must decide who to trust, and if the only rational course of action is one of apparent madness.

Jaq D Hawkins is a traditionally published writer turned indie with 9 books in publication on nature spirits and chaos magic published by Capall Bann Publishing as well as four Fantasy novels in print and E-book, Dance of the Goblins, Demoniac Dance, and Power of the Dance constitute The Goblin Trilogy, and The Wake of the Dragon is a Steampunk Adventure with airship pirates, soo to be followed by more swashbuckling excitement.

Jaq is also a regular contributor to the Of Words and Water anthologies in support of WaterAid and releases the occasional new goblin story to fill in details of the goblin world.

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Reviews

Review by:
Sadie S. Forsythe
on April 21, 2013 :
The Wake of the Dragon follows the events directly following a large air-pirate heist. While this provides an interesting back-drop for an adventure story, it feels as if it could be just any old day at the office for the people involved. There is no feeling that this is "the big one' or 'the final one' or extra important in any way and therefore worthy of note. I was a little disappointed about that. But the writing is very good (if repetitive at times), the steampunk technology interesting, and the characters relatable. I especially liked the pirates dedication to their goddess. There is also some appreciable humour and wit, especially in poor Dudley's discomfort and the captain's relations with his first officer.

While The Wake of the Dragon might not be all heart stopping action, it is very good and well worth a read. If you like steampunk in the slightest I would recommend picking it up. I'm definitely up for reading more of Hawkins' writing.
(reviewed 12 months after purchase)

Review by:
Jim Browning
on May 25, 2012 :
This one had me laughing on the first page. As Steampunk writing goes this is what it should be, an airship pirate adventure in the opium trade where a convoluted series of thieves, spies and corrupt businessmen form a fast moving tale that keeps the pages turning and the reader both intrigued and amused. The story can be engrossingly serious at one moment and delightfully comedic in the next.

The characters are well defined and form an interesting tapestry of opposites. A businessman's clerk who suffers from travel sickness is an unlikely companion for a gentleman pirate captain with a mystical proclivity who thrives on the thrill of danger at storm's edge. A farm girl, a hired spy and a mechanoid pirate crew add both flavor and comedy to a story that has been notably historically researched, even giving the date of a significant earthquake in England that really happened.

The aspects of alternative technology that define good Steampunk are handled well and the writer's skill with the story teller's art makes me curious about her other books. I hope her future releases will include more Steampunk. A sequel to this one would be great as I would like to see more adventures with some of these characters.
(reviewed 2 days after purchase)

Review by:
C.M. Gray
on May 24, 2012 :
In a steam punk world reminiscent of Victorian London, a world where steam powered airships roam the sky and it would seam everyone and his mother succumb to the tempting embrace of opium and rum, a robbery sets the story for an adventure around the skies.

The thieves head off in their airship, captained by the incredible Captain Bonny, while the luckless Dudley, clerk of the dubious victim, Mr Wyatt gives chase.

The character of Captain Bonny is extremely well developed as he tempts the faits with his flirtations with Aide, goddess of the storm winds, always sailing a little too close to a storm so that he might feel a connection with her.

I thought this was a really well put together story that drew me along entertaining all the way. I look forward to exploring other books by this author.
(reviewed 19 days after purchase)